Action Alert

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Legislation Introduced to Legalise Same-Sex Marriage

On Monday 13 February 2012, two pieces of legislation were introduced in the House of Representatives to legalise same-sex marriage.  In what seemed like a race to be the most ‘gay-friendly’, Stephen Jones (ALP – Member for Throsby, NSW) presented a private member’s bill on the issue, while Adam Bandt (Greens – Member for Melbourne, VIC) and Andrew Wilkie (Independent – Member for Denison, TAS) co-sponsored a private member’s bill on the same issue.

Mr Jones, a lawyer and the National Secretary of the Community and Public Sector Union from 2005 to 2010, was elected to Federal Parliament in 2010.  In December 2011, after the Federal ALP National Conference formally changed the Party’s policy from its traditional support of a one-man-one-woman definition of marriage to embrace a new understanding of marriage ‘equality’ (any two consenting adults, regardless of gender), Mr Jones indicated that he would introduce a private member’s bill as soon as Parliament resumed.  He has kept his word!  Mr Bandt’s private member’s bill was to be expected, because the legalisation of same-sex marriage is the policy of the Australian Greens.

Mr Bandt has indicated that he would like to see both bills referred to a Senate inquiry which is already examining another piece of proposed legislation on this issue that had been introduced by Senator Sarah Hanson-Young (Greens) in the Senate.  Mr Bandt stated that the best approach to get the laws through Parliament would be to take time and make it a cooperative multi-party effort.  He also wants all parliamentarians to be given a conscience vote on the issue (in other words, to not have to vote in accordance with their Party’s official policy).  After the ALP National Conference in December 2011, Labor parliamentarians will be allowed a conscience vote, but the Coalition (Liberal and National Parties) has – so far, thankfully – resisted the pressure to abandon its policy on the definition of marriage as between one man and one woman.

Tony Abbott, Leader of the Opposition, has publicly stated that the Coalition will not change its policy and will not allow its parliamentarians a conscience vote.  Mr Abbott said, “Five times before the last election, I said that as far as the Coalition was concerned, marriage is between a man and a woman.  Now, I think it’s very important that politicians don’t say one thing before an election and do the opposite after an election, so as far as I’m concerned we’ll be sticking to our commitments.”  This is the current Liberal Party policy, and has always been Liberal Party policy.  It was the Liberal-National Coalition Government that initiated the Marriage Amendment Act 2004 to insert a specific one-man-one-woman definition into the Marriage Act 1961, not on the basis of a conscience vote but on the basis of Parties’ policies.  A conscience vote for Coalition MPs in 2012 on this issue would demonstrate a disregard for traditional Coalition policy, a lack of confidence in the institution of marriage itself, and a declaration that the Coalition is no longer capable of protecting the basic right of children to know and be raised by their biological parents.  Marriage creates a legal union between a man and a woman, giving permanence in their relationship and establishing legal bonds between parents and their children, for the benefit of the parents, children, and society.  Redefining marriage, as proposed by these private members’ bills, attacks the nature of marriage itself.  First, it would radically redefine the marriages of all Australians and second, sever the intrinsic connection between marriage and children.  It will also become an attack on the freedom of religion, for, although the private members’ bills proposed exemptions for churches and clergy so that they will not be compelled to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies, such exemptions would later be challenged and within a decade most likely removed on the basis of anti-discrimination laws.

For the vast majority of Australians, same-sex marriage is a low priority issue. Among those who feel strongly about the issue, more are opposed (18%) than in favour (14%), according to comprehensive research by the Ambrose Centre in 2011.  The research also found that 69% of Australians believe that we should uphold the traditional meaning of marriage, because marriage between a man and a woman, and them having children together, is an important social institution.

However, there are some Liberal Party parliamentarians who do support same-sex marriage.  Because the Coalition allows its parliamentarians to cross the floor in accordance with their consciences without then disciplining those MPs or disendorsing them at the next election (unlike Labor, where any parliamentarian who goes against Party policy is disciplined and could lose pre-selection for their electorate at the next election), it is still be possible for Liberal politicians like Malcolm Turnbull or Warren Entsch to vote against Party policy and in favour of legalising of same-sex marriage.
We need to contact the Coalition members of the House of Representatives [at this stage the matter is before the House, not the Senate] to urge them to hold fast to the Liberal and National Parties’ policies on this issue.  We need to tell them that we would not accept any legal recognition of same-sex marriage – or even any other form of registration such as legal recognition of civil partnerships, that mimic (and therefore undermine) marriage.  A list of the names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of the Coalition parliamentarians is available on the website www.aph.gov.au.  Click on the House of Representatives image, then on Members in the list in the upper left corner, and then scroll down to the Country Liberal Party, the Liberal Party of Australia, the Nationals, and the Nationals WA. 

It would also be appropriate to contact the three MPs who have introduced the private members’ bills to express your profound disappointment.  Stephen Jones’ email address is stephen.jones.mp@aph.gov.au and his phone is (02) 62774661.  Adam Bandt is at adam.bandt.mp@aph.gov.au or (02) 62774775.  Andrew Wilkie is at (02) 62774766 or andrew.wilkie.mp@aph.gov.au.  The address for all three MPs is PO Box 6022, House of Representatives, Parliament House, Canberra, ACT, 2600.

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Who will stand up for me against evildoers?
Who will take his stand for me against those who do wickedness?
Psalm 94:16

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This monthly release is prepared by Pastor Brian Robertson (P O Box 2367, Bundaberg, 4670) to inform Christian people about issues within our society.  “Action Alert” does not promote any one political party, but encourages its readers to be “salt and light” by speaking out on some of these matters.  The views expressed in “Action Alert” are those of the author and are not necessarily those of a local church or a denominational organisation.  To the extent permissible by law, no church or denomination accepts liability for anything contained in this publication and any use made of it.